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Sikhs Denounce Sant Samaj Move
On Nanakshahi Calender
WSN Network
 Los
Angeles: Sikhs in America have condemned the Gurmat Sidhant
Parcharak Sant Samaj for revolting against Jathedar of Takht Shri
Damdama Sahib, Balwant Singh Nandgarh.
The Coalition of
Gurdwaras of California and Sikhs for Preservation of Sikhism and
Sikh Heritage have expressed concern about recent developments in Punjab
regarding the Nanakshahi Calender and said it seems that Sant Samaj
is emerging as an organization that is dividing the Sikhs and
indulging in petty politics.
Diaspora Sikhs
and members of the Coalition said Jathedar Nandgarh was right in his
approach that brahmanical pujaris were in control of the maryada at
the two takhats, Takht Hazur Sahib and Patna Sahib, and were
consistently refusing to follow the maryada that the entire Sikh
panth sanctions and follows. This, they said, has been going on for
too long and it was high time that the issue was taken to some
logical conclusion.
The Coalition
members took strong exception to the Sant Samaj's move of passing a
resolution after a two-hour long meeting at Gurdwara Gur Gyan
Prakash at Jawaddi on October 26 that accused Jathedar Nandgarh of
torpedoing the Panthic unity.
Sikhs in
California are upset because Sant Samaj is seemingly getting
involved in clandestine activities to destroy Sikhs and Sikhism.
Significantly, the Sant Samaj backs a manuscript called Vanjara
Pothi, a heretical manuscript, that was being floated as one of the
early drafts of Guru Granth Sahib.
Sikhs in America
have appealed to the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, to
stay clear from any controversial move on the Nanakshahi Calender or
introducing any changes at the behest of the Sant Samaj. They said
that Sant Samaj’s allegations against Jathedar Nandgarh were
divisive and that the demand to amend Nanakshahi Calendar was aimed
at destabilizing panthic forums and undermining the authority of
Akal Takht.
Meanwhile, the
Gurmat Sidhant Parcharak Sant Samaj has asked the Akal Takht
Jathedar to summon Jathedar Nandgarh and issue him a warning, a move
that is likely to hurt wide sections of Sikhs and enrage the
Diaspora Sikhs who look towards Akal Takht as the Supreme Seat of
temporal authority.
Jathedar
Nandgarh had said the Sikhs should not visit Takht Hazur Sahib and
Patna Sahib as these two seats of religion did not follow the Akal
Takht maryada in letter and in spirit.
The Sant Samaj
seems to be pushing the line on Nanakshahi Calender and is
threatening to call a congregation of religious heads to decide the
future course of action, something that is likely to divide the Sikh
quom further on a sensitive issue.
28
October 2009
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